Page 99 of Alpha Mates

His arms wrap around my waist, and he holds me so tightly that I can barely breathe. It’s then that I feel the anxiety rippling through our bond. Anxiety that is all his, and smells an awful lot like fear. But Aiden knows I can take care of myself—I just did. So, what is there to be afraid of?

His grip tightens before he draws back. “You idiot, why didn’t you call for help?” he snaps.

I blink at him.

“Because I didn’t need it?” I answer slowly.

He doesn’t hear me; he just rages on. “Or run! Or call me, or do anything else! Why did you stay?”

“Because I didn’t need help,” I snap back, meeting his glare with one of my own. “I didn’t need to run, or hide, or do anything else. I took care of it, and I didn’t need tocallyou. I’m an alpha too, Aiden.”

“I know you are, but—” His voice falters. His lips tremble before misery fills his dark eyes and he slumps, defeated. “You could’ve gotten hurt, Julian.”

My anger drains away without warning, replaced by a sadness stemming from him. I look into his eyes, and the fragile concern shimmering there splinters me.

“I was scared,” he confesses, his fingers fisting the ends of my shirt. “I saw those guys coming at you and I …” He shakes his head. “I’ve never felt fear like that, Julian.”

“I …” I struggle to find my words. “I handled it.”

“I know. I know you did,” he says as his gaze turns earnest. “I wasn’t scared because you couldn’t. I was scared because you were in danger. You’re my mate—mine, and you were in danger.”

Mine. The word has my insides flooding with mind-numbing bliss.Mine. His. Goddess, that sounds too nice.

“I’m sorry,” I mumble eventually. I don’t know what I’m apologising for, but Aiden’s miserable, and it’s the only thing that comes to mind. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

Blackened eyes search mine before they shift, settling on where one of the weasels managed to hit me. They immediately darken.

“I’m fine,” I promise as his fingers trace it carefully. “It was a drunk human’s punch. Aiden, I’m fine.”

Whether he hears me or not, his thumb keeps tracing the spot as if he’s trying to erase the invisible bruise. When it doesn’t work, he leans forward and presses a gentle kiss to it.

I turn to stone one second, and melt the next, as warm pleasure courses through me. It’s light and full at once, some wondrous feeling that makes my body heat as his lips press another tentative, reverent kiss against my skin. I shiver atop him as he kisses the spot once more before finally drawing back.

When our eyes meet again, there’s a fresh fire burning in his that I can’t find the sense to escape. I only lean closer, loving its warmth and wanting more. Aiden brushes my fallen hair from my face and tucks it away, causing his fingers to graze against my already burning ears.

“Y-you can’t do that here,” I stutter out, gripping the leather behind him.

“Sorry,” he mumbles, eyes still glued to mine. He doesn’t look sorry in the slightest.

Closing my eyes, I try to slow my ragged breaths, but there’s no chance of that with me sitting in his lap. I move into the passenger seat, and this time, Aiden lets me. I keep my hands busy, buckling in while ignoring the heat of his stare.

“We should go,” I mutter, fingers gripping my thighs as I face the windshield. “Before we miss the movie.” Or do something else in this gas station.

“Yeah,” Aiden breathes, starting the car.

I keep my eyes fixed outside for the rest of the drive. I can’t look at him anymore. In this whirlwind of a day, I’m back to avoiding him while my mind struggles to compute his reaction. For our entire lives, Aiden has been fearless, confident, never admitting his anxieties and then—

“I’ve never felt fear like that, Julian.”

My stomach warms as I press myself against the window. I focus on the blended night lights in the dark sky that rush past like electric streaks. And I’m sure they’re mocking reflections of the restlessness coursing through my veins.

Chapter 19

Julian

“Did you know the entire population of Mars is robots?”

I look away from the drive-in’s massive screen and gaze at my mate.